Tttbjt and stop signal



March 8, 1932. B. B. BEACH TURN AND STOP SIGNAL Filed May 14. 1930 nwnlow Patented Mar. 8, 1932 BENJAMIN B. BEACH, 015' BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN moan AND s'ror SIGNAL Application filed May 14,

This invention is a novel improvement in turn and stop signals, and the principal ob- V ject of the invention is to provide a turn and stop signal designed for use on all road vehicles such as trucks, automobiles, or any types of vehicles equipped with a battery or generator or other means of supplying an electric current for lighting or other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal of the above character which will be simple in construction and positive in operation and which will be durable and readily attachable to the vehicle and in the electric battery or generator circuit. Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same; and will sumarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section through the signal showing one of the indicia plates projected above the casing into position for indicating a left turn.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the casing showing the indicia plate in lowered.

position within the casing, and retracted out of view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 1- 4, Fig. 2.

My novel turn and stop signalis adapted to be mounted by means of a suitable bracket or the like on an automobile or other vehicle in position to be readily seen by operators of other vehicles, particularly from the rear thereof; and as shown in the drawings the signal consists of a substantially rectangular casing 1, closed on all of its faces, having a portion 2 of rectangular shape projecting downwardly at one end of the casing 1, the portion 2 communicating with the casing 1. The casing 1 and portion 2 however may be of any other desired shape. In the topof 1930. Serial No. 452,378.

casingl disposed at one side of the portion 2, are a plurality of parallel slots 3, three such slots being shown, the slots extending the v full length ofthe casing except directly over the port-i011 2 7 At each end of each slot within the casing 1 .is a'verti'sal guide it of U-shaped cross-section (Fig. adapted to receive the end of a slide plate 5 t o guide the same,-the plates 5 bearing indicia and being adapted to be projected outof their related slots 3ab0ve the topof the casing 1 as hereinafter described.' Oneplate 5 bears the indicia or legend Left; -another bears the indicia l'light; and the third plate bears the in- 5 dicia fStop?, so that when any one of the plates 5 are projected above the casing 1 as indicated in Fig.1, the operators of other vehicles, will be informed that the vehicle bearing theca'sing will'make a turn or sto according to the particular plate displayed:

.Along the.upper edge of each plate 5 is a T-shaped head 5a adapted to close its related slot 3 when the plate is in lowered-iposition shown in Fig.3, the T-shaped heads being preferably flanged downwardly along their outer'edges and adapted to embrace upwardly turned lips 3a formed around the slots 3 so as to prevent dirt and rain from entering the casing 1 through slots 3 when the plates 5 are in lowered position.

Adjacent the lower edge of each plate 5 is an elongated slot 55 preferably disposed parallel with the lower edge ofthe plate, each slot 5?) being adapted to-receive a pin 6a on 35 rocker arm 6 pivoted as at 66 on the side of its related guide 4-, adjacent the portion 2. The opposite end of each lever 6 is connected by a link 7 to the upper end of the soft iron core 8 of a solenoid 9, one such solenoid bein provided for the arm 6 of each plate 5, and the solenoids being fixedly mounted within the offset portion 2 of the casing, as indicated in the drawings.

By the above construction, when any of the 96 solenoids 9 are electrically excited its related core 8 will be drawn downwardly by magnetic action thereby lifting its related plate 5 to display the indicia thereon when said plate 5 is projected through'its related slot 3 out of 10' the casing 1. The electric current for oper ating my turn and stop signal is supplied from the usual battery generator or other means (not shown) by a conductor wire con nected to a switch (not shown) on the steering wheel or instrument panel in the usual manner. From said. switch the circuit extends to the solenoids, passes through the solenoid coils and is grounded to the vehicle frame, causing a magnetic circuit to flow in the air gap of the excited solenoid 9 The magnetic flux, which exerts a. pull or drawing force on the soft iron core 8, draws said core 8 down into the solenoid 9, causing arm 6 which is fastened to plate 5 and to lift plate 5 out of the slot 3 in the. top of casing 1, thereby displaying the signal luminous or otherwise, for the purpose of. telling the person or persons in the rear of said vehicle or vehicles, the intention to make a right or left turn or to come to a complete stop. When the current is broken at the switch, the magnetic flux collapses and the weight of plate 5 overcomes the Weight of the soft iron core 8 and drops into the casing into the same position which is occupied before the current entered its related solenoid 9. I

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

1. A signal of the character specified, com= prising a rectangular casing having a plu rality of parallel slots in its upper face; an offset portion projecting downwardly at one end of the casing and communicating therewith: slidable plates bearing indicia and adapted to be partly projected upwardly through said slots out of the casing to display the indicia pivoted rocker arms engaging the plates and extending over the offset portion; cores on the rocker arms; and solenoid coils mounted in the ofiset portion for depreming the cores and thereby actuating the rocker arms,

2. A signal of the character specified, com prising a rectangular casing having a plu= rality of parallel slots in its upper face; an oiiset portion projecting downwardly at one end of the casing and communicating therewith; slidable plates hearing indicia, and adapted to be partly projected upwardly essee? set portion projecting downwardly at one end of the casing and communicating therewith; vertical guides Within the casing o posite the ends of said slots; slidahle plates caring indicia carried by said guides and adapted to be partly rejected upwardly through said slots out of the casing to display the indicia; pivoted rocker arms engaging the plates and extending over the oflfset portion; cores on the rocker arms substantially balancing the Weight of their respective plates, and solenoid coils mounted in the offset portion for depressing the cores and thereby actuating the rocker arms. a

BENJAMEN B. BEACH.

through said slots out of the casing to display v the indicia; pivoted rocker arms engaging slots adjacent the lower edges of the plates and extending into the ofi set portion; cores on the rocker arms substantially balancing the Weight of their respective plates, and so= lenoid coils mounted in the ofiset portion for a depressing the cores and thereby raising the respective plates 'l 3. A signal of the character specified coinprising a rectangular casing having a plurality of parallel slots in its upper face; an ofi. 

